Shirley Anthony Gaudet, 86, of Beaumont, died Monday, November 11, 2013, at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth, Beaumont. A native and lifelong resident of Beaumont, he was born on June 30, 1927, to Marie Berthile Gaudet and Abel R. Gaudet. Shirley was a retired pipefitter with Union Oil, Nederland.
The Beaumont native attended St. Anthony High School where he lettered in football. At the age of 16, he won the 1944 Texas Golden Gloves state flyweight championship and advanced to the quarterfinals in national competition before losing a split decision.
Former Beaumont Journal sports Editor Bill Scurlock wrote about the 1944 fight: "The count was close and there were plenty of boos over the verdict. Little Shirley fought his heart out...Gaudet, who never fought a lick before this year, deserves plenty of credit."
He joined the United States Navy in 1945 and served eleven months near the end of World War II.
Shirley coached Beaumont youth baseball for many years. He enjoyed gardening, golfing, fishing, and spending time with family at Toledo Bend Lake.
Shirley loved his family and will be remembered as a loving husband, dad, and “pawpaw”. To the end, he always put others in his family first. He supported his grandchildren by attending countless track meets, band concerts, and baseball and football games. Shirley was the rock of his family and someone you could trust to do the right thing. When his grandson asked for advice for life, he said, “Go to church more often, always say your prayers, and plan ahead.” And the former boxing champion added, “Don’t start a fight but if someone is going to hit you, hit them first.”
He is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Octovene “Shorty” Matthews Gaudet of Beaumont; sons, Larry Gaudet and wife, Belinda, of Southlake and Wayne Gaudet and wife, Elda, of Beaumont; grandchildren, Scott Gaudet of Grapevine, Jessica Gaudet McColley of Beaumont, Shawn Gaudet of Argyle, and Dustin Gaudet of Austin; eight great-grandchildren, Jordan Gaudet of Houston, Gabriel Gaudet, Garrett McColley, and Everleigh Gaudet, all of Beaumont, Avery, Connor, and Reese Gaudet, all of Grapevine, and Katelyn Gaudet of Argyle; and sister, Betty Ann Wallace of Vidor.
Shirley was preceded in death by his parents, Abel Roman and Marie Berthile “Bertha” Gaudet; brothers, John M. Gaudet and James Harold Gaudet; and sisters, Alma Burns, Mary Louise Heufelder, and Alice Burns.
A gathering of Mr. Gaudet’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, November 14, 2013, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m., Friday, November 15, 2013, at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, 700 Jefferson, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Memory Gardens of Jefferson County, Nederland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica School, 850 Forsythe, Beaumont, Texas 77701.
